Sberbank CEO German Gref admits to having bitcoins

September 17, 2015, 12:53 UTC+3KAZANCentral Bank Chief Elvira Nabiullina said earlier that digital currencies may be used for shady transactions so the regulator is closely examining the issue and is ready to regulate it if needed

Sberbank CEO German Gref

KAZAN, September 17. /TASS/. Sberbank of Russia CEO German Gref admitted to having a small amount of cryptocurrency — bitcoin, he said Thursday at Finnopolis 2015 conference.

"I am one of the victims, I have a small amount of bitcoins," he said, noting that in recent years this cryptocurrency has seriously devalued. "Only one currency in the world has devalued more that the ruble — bitcoin," he joked.

Earlier on Wednesday, September 16, Kommersant business daily reported with reference to CEO and co-owner of Qiwi Sergey Solonin, that the company plans to launch bitrubles issue in 2016 based on technology of bitcoin, which is the most popular crypto currency at the moment. Solonin said Qiwi had unofficial meetings with representatives of the Central Bank regarding the issue. He added that the project will require several millions of dollars.

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Central Bank Chief Elvira Nabiullina said earlier that digital currencies may be used for shady transactions so the regulator is closely examining the issue and is ready to regulate it if needed.

In January 2014, the Russian Central Bank and the Prosecutor-General’s Office warned that digital cash may be used for financing terrorism and money laundering, and that transactions with cryptocurrencies will be considered as questionable.